When I was a newbie to Twitter, I started following a woman named Sandi. How I found her, I can’t remember. What I do remember is being astounded by her level of energy and engagement – her tweets were interesting, witty, and rapid-fire. I remember thinking, “I like her.” And, when we finally talked on the phone, I knew those tweets were divinely inspired. I had found a soul sister – one who believes in embracing possibility today, not someday. It’s no wonder the phrase from my manifesto that asks you to remember that it is never too late, spoke to Sandi. Let her words carry you to new places of possibility!
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“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
These words have inspired me many times in my life.
It’s never too late.
For anyone. Or anything.
Well alright, it might be too late for me to become an Olympic athlete.
With one knee surgery, a tendency to klutzy mishaps, and a family predisposition for achy joints, that’s likely never going to happen.
But here’s the thing. . .
A transformation can still occur.
As I lay in bed on the night before my 49th birthday, in the midst of my ‘dark night of the soul not quite mid-life crisis’ I wondered what it would take to cause this transformation in the coming year.
What would it be like to celebrate 50 in the strongest, healthiest, most vibrant version of me ever?
That was a question I’d never asked before. And as I lay there in my bed at 3am I didn’t have the answer. . .but I sure liked how the first glimmer of that vision felt.
Deepak Chopra says, “If we are creating ourselves all the time, then it is never too late to begin creating the bodies we want instead of the ones we mistakenly assume we are stuck with.”
Think about how many aspects of life you have mistakenly assumed you are stuck with.
And what if you’re not stuck at all?
Here’s what I realized about this belief that it’s never too late:
“It’s never too late – in fiction or in life – to revise.” – Nancy Thayer
We make up stories all the time, key words being make up. And if that’s true, then isn’t it logical to also believe that you can make up a new story that empowers you? Your memories are not as reliable as you’d like to believe, so rather than give your power away due to a faulty memory, create a new story that feels good.
Like the time I broke two fingers playing baseball when I was 12 years old. It wasn’t because I was a lame ball player, it was because I made a desperate lunge for the ball, and that catch saved the game!
- Think of a story that’s weighed you down in some way. Make up a new version, and have some fun with it!
“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” – Tom Robbins
Isn’t it amazing how your inner drama queen thrives on childhood angst?
I’ve always known I had a great childhood, but for a few years I let my drama queen take centre stage and while she was not quite Ophelia, she was pretty tragic at times. As I grew up and became more responsible, I realized how much I had to be grateful for. Perspective is a beautiful thing!
- Allow your memories of childhood to surface. Then as if you had the remote control in your hand, fast forward through the bits that still hold any emotional charge. Slow down and savour the moments of joy and delight.
“The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
When I was 33 I had knee surgery. Afterwards, the doctor gave me a list of all the activities I’d have to give up. It was a long list that included running and dancing. As you might imagine, I wasn’t happy about this list.
So I got a second opinion and decided to take up running. Crazy you say? Maybe, but I hated being told so definitively that I couldn’t do something. I found a brilliant physical therapist who helped me train slowly and wisely, allowing my body to adjust to the physical challenge. A year later I ran a half marathon, one of the most empowering moments of my life.
That year of training looked like hundreds of small actions, one after another.
- Start small. Don’t worry about the end result or the big picture. Just start and take the first step.
“It’s never too late to give up.” – Myriad Sprite
Before I discovered my calling, I had a few really good jobs. Each time I gave up and left, I trusted the small voice inside that knew there was something more for me. Even though I had no idea what that was, and even though people questioned my decisions, I trusted the voice.
- You have your own voice. Pay attention because it’s always speaking and there to guide you.
“Its never too late to start heading in the right direction.” – Seth Godin
Maybe you’ve gotten lost on the path, and you’re certain that you’ve failed. So what! Or better still, now what?
One step, one action can alter the course of your life. A few days after my birthday I decided to commit to a pretty intense detox. Five weeks later I felt empowered and energized, on the path to the transformation I envisioned that night.
- You have an area of life that’s just as compelling. It’s time to choose it fully, and completely, without reservation.
“…in the end you are the only one who can make yourself happy. More important, …it is never too late to find out how to do it.” – Ruth Reichl
Sandi Amorim is a cage rattling Coach, Instigator and Writer on a mission to obliterate ‘someday’ thinking from the face of the earth. She’s out to wake people up to what’s important in life, and does so with over a decade of training and experience as a Solution Focused Coach and NLP Practitioner. She can be found sharing her slightly mad twist on personal development at Deva Coaching.
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I asked him if he had seen the sun lately.
. I’ve read it. It’s fabulous – especially if you are looking for a new way to tap your dreams and make them real. (Please note this is an affiliate link. If you decide to buy the book through my site, I may get a bit of cash. You can also go directly to Amazon or Patti’s site, if you wish.)
